Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-12-24
A BIG STRIKE.
PHILADELPHIA ARD RgADIFG RAIL
ROAD EMPLOYERS QUIT WORK
Thousand Men Join in the Move
ment-Causs Of the Trouble.
[Br telegraph TO the pIspatch.l

PHILADELPHIA, December 23.-Over
one thousand men employed by the
Philadelphia and Reading Railroad Com
pany on their lines running from West
Falls 30 the Port Richmond coal wharves,
either as trainmen, coal handlers, or
freight-handlcrs quit work this afternoon
at half-past 4. This action was caused
by the introduction of train-crew of
five non-uuion men 10 do work upon
which union men had been employed,
but who had been discharged. This
movement will be communicated to all
the employees OF tae road, and a general
strike on all the lines Of the
company may be the result. The
trouble originated yesterday, whena crew
of freight-handlfrs, engaged in shifting
cars loaded with flour INTO a pier con-
trolled by the firm OF Charles II. Tay
lors Son, refused TO deliver any more
freight b. the firm unless the non-union
laborers employed in handling the freight
should be discharged. Word was imme-
diately sent to John O'Keim, the general
freight agent and higping clerk at the
Port Richmond Wharves, who tele-
graphed the news Of the refusal to
the general officers OF the company.
Upon the receipt OF the telegram
Superintendent Sweigard issued an or
der discharging the crew who had re-
fused TO handle the freight, and threaten
ing the same punishment to other crews
who would follow the precedent. All the
remaining force. which consisted of four
crews, refusing to obey tue order, We're
discharged, and the engines were taken
TO the round-house and the men left the
yard The news of the discharge quickly
spread among the other employees Of
the company in Port Richmond, and
steyedOres TO the number OF about SIX
hundred men dropped their work and
left the yard. The news OF such
large body OF men quitting
work soon spread through Port Rich
mond, and a committee OF Knights OF
Labor Assemblies Nos. 5312 and $3.50, to
which the strikers belonged, called upon
General Manager Mcleod and Superin-
teDdent Swiegard with the purpose Of
settling the difficulty and preventing a
general strike. The object was uDsuc-
ccssful, however, as the officers would
not listen to any excuses, claiming that
the work had to be done, and if the pres
emit employees found it difficult to obey
orders the management would be COM
PEELED to look elsewhere for help.
The situation was unchanged this
morning, and no freight was delivered
to the covered piers at the foot Of VIII
liams street nor were the stevedores at
work. The company was determined to
operate their lines, however, and made
preparations to secure crews for idle To-
comotiyes, but were unsuccessful until
about / O'Clock, when aid was secured by
forming mixed crew Of non-uniOn men
at the Third and Berks-Sreet station.
Trouble with the strikers had been an
ticipated, however, and the company re-
quested Director Stokely to furnish
police detectives. Accordingly an order
was issued by the director this morning
directing the captains and lieutenants of
the several districts to mass a force OF
$50 men, in three platOOns, ut the point
OF trouble. At , o'clock one OF the pla-
toons was sent to the round-housc at the
junction of the Philadelphia and Read
ing track and the Pennsylvania railroad
track at Trenton avenue, one to dis
tribute itself along the line of the rail
road running from the Found-house to
the coal wharves, and a third to guard
the coal wharyes, freight wharves, and
elevators. This action in calling for
police protection was greeted with de-
rision and sarcasm 10y the men and in-
habitants OF Port Richmond. The only
cause for alarm was the suspicion that
the uon-umon crew would be molestcd
at their work. but they toiled on unin-
terruptedly, and the police made no at
tempt to arrest any one. Engine NO.
28S, manned by the obnoxious crew, ar
rived at the scene Of trouble at about
$3.50. and proceeded at once to move the
bovcotted freight The news Of the re-
newal of work was quickly communi-
Gated among the other men at work, and
concerted action was speedily agreed
uuon. Au hour was given to al
low the employees on the road
from West Falls to the nyer
10 learn of the determination, and at
1870 O'Clock, when the signal was given,
every nal stopped work. The shifting
engines that were working on the coal
wharves quickly ran TO Their usual rest
inc places until the whole number -FOUR
teen were placed in one line, and the
crews Immediately drew the fires and
blew ont the boilers. The men that were
wheeling coM dropped their barrow
handles. swtchmen closed their switches
and left the main line open, conductors,
brakemen, and other employees let
their work and quickly went to their
homes.
Observation-Disclosures Keim WIS very
reticcnt in discussing the apparent out
come OF the strike, and declared that the
railroad company would operate the
road If it required military surveillance
of the property. Trouble is anticipated
fer several days, and 1t Is probable that
the police force Will be retained to pro-
tect the property Of the company.